Biscoe commissioners held a public hearing followed by action to approve rezoning and a subdivision plan for an approximately 100-acre tract fronting on N.C. 24/27 and I 73, behind the Food Lion and Days Inn.
The property is owned by CRV/CVS Investment Property, LLC, which according to Mayor Jimmy Blake is closely connected to the group that developed the Food Lion parcel.
The parcel, which was previously zoned Suburban Residential and Agricultural, is now Light Industrial, defined as promoting "industrial activities of a relatively clean and quiet nature which will not be detrimental to adjacent residential or business districts." The ordinance contains a lengthy list of permitted uses.
During the public hearing, adjacent property owner Harold VanDerveer said he doesn’t really have a problem with the zoning and subdivision "as long as the town follows the guidelines and is diligent as we move forward."
Blake and Town Manager Brooks Lockhart assured VanDerveer that the zoning includes significant setbacks and vegetation buffers to adjoining zones.
The town was not able to answer VanDerveer’s question about what specific businesses would be brought in, however. Blake said the developers have had interest from an eating establishment (Waffle House has been looking at property on the east side for some time), but that development will be a long term project that still has a lot of unknowns. "It sounds like an opportunity for us and we’ll just have to see what happens," Blake stated.
The property is in a Watershed District and DOT will have to be involved in developing an entrance. Blake said the DOT already has issues with the Hardee/Food Lion entrance being too close to the interstate and will likely require a new entrance that could include access to the CRV development.
The motion to approve the subdivision includes very specific wording that the developer is fully responsible for development costs, including water and sewer lines, pump station and roads and that the town is not liable for any development costs. Responding to concerns from Commissioner Mike Criscoe about impacts on the town’s sewer collection system, Blake said, "Any time you have economic development of that size, it has an impact on the town," and the town might have to upgrade pump stations elsewhere to handle increased use.
In other business, the board:
o Approved the resolution to continue the town’s third year with the Governor’s Highway Safety Grant program.
o Received the annual report from Economic Development Director Judy Stevens.
